Hundreds of Bamyan farmers receive agriculture tools

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): As many as 250 farmers received agriculture equipment and input in central Bamyan province, where men planted orchards on 662 acres of land and women on 550 acres this year, officials said on Sunday.

The agriculture tools distributed included ladders, scissors and baskets to male farmer while female gardeners received shovels and handcarts. Those who had newly set up gardens were distributed fertilizer.

Bamyan agriculture, irrigation and livestock director, Abdul Wahab Mohammadi, told Pajhwok Afghan News the tools were distributed to farmers under the National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), a World Bank-funded project.

Mohammadi said 50 percent cost of the tools were paid by farmers and the remaining 50 percent by MAIL.

““Farmers who created gardens this year were provided with fertilizer free of cost and more than 1,500 acres of land that was planted with fruit trees in recent years also needed support of the agriculture ministry,” he said.

Besides Bamyan’s capital, the districts also benefited from the program that was completed today, he said, adding Bamyan gardeners collected 10 to five tons of fruits annually.

Main fruits of Bamyan include apricot, apple and cherry grown in different districts of the province, he said.

“Saqi Apricot is the best apricot that is grown in Kahmard, Yakawlang-1 and Yakawlang-2 districts of Bamyan,” Mohammadi said.

Abdul Sattar, a farmer, said the agriculture tools would help farmers a lot. “We previously collected apples by shaking trees, when apples would damage after dropping on the ground, but now we would use ladder for that,” he said.

Fatima, who grows vegetables for sale, said the money she earned helped her economically support her family. She also said the agriculture tools she received were helpful.